Apparatus for making gut strings



Nov. 5, 1946. F. LAN GE APPARATUS FOR-MAKING GUT STRINGS Filed May 8, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m"? mm m Q H m 1 ,H QM E MN "m I E.

' Nov. 5, 1946.

F. LANGE APPARATUS FOR MAKING GUT STRINGS Filed May 8, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 5,1946. F.LANGE 2,410,509

APPARATUS FOR MAKING GUT STRINGS F iled May s. 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet:

- Nov. 5, 1946 F, LAN'GE 2,410,509

APPARATUS FOR MAKING'GUT STRINGS Filed May 8, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fz'x jazz '6 (5PM Nov. 5, 1946.

F. LANGE 2,410,509

APPARATUSFOR M'AKJENG GUT STRINGS Filed May 8, 1943 5 She etS-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT orr cef I I 2,410,509 7 APPARATUS FOR MAKING GUT STRINGS Felix Lange, Chicago, IlL, 'assignor to Carl G.

Bjorkmaii, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 8, 1943, Serial No.'486,184

11 Claims. .1 In making gut strings for various purposes, in accordance with Bjorkman Patent No. 2,104,730, successive skeins of fine gut strands are strung between successive pairs of hooks, one hook in each pair rotating to twist the skein. The rotating hooks, or spindles as they are more commonly called, are motor driven. The motor is started after allthe skeins are strung and is automatically turned ofi after it has turned the spindles a predetermined number of revolutions. The number of revolutions through which the spindle is turned must be adjustable since the skeins vary widely in length, depending upon their purpose and a short skein must not be twisted as many revolutions as along skein.

In the Bjorkman apparatus, the spindle-driving gears and avery complicated counter have accounted for an undue proportion of the total cost and maintenance difficulties, even though the remainder of the apparatus has been so in.- expensive and trouble free that theapparatus has been eminently satisfactory when considered asawhole.

According to the present invention, the Bjorkman apparatus has been greatly simplified in these points that have been found troublesome. In spite of the fact that expertsin the spindle driving art have insisted that the spindles could not be driven by chains and sprockets, a satisfactory chain drive has been worked out. Presumably, the experts thought that achain could not drive a sprocket properly unless it was wrapped partly around the sprocket, and space limitations did not permit this. Applicant has determined and proved that the chain running across the tops of the sprockets is sufiicient, partly perhaps because the load on. the spindle is extremely light. Also, according to this in-. vention, a guard is provided for preventing the chain from jumping ofi the spindles under exceptional influences, although it does not ordinarily touch the chain and hence represents no appreciable wear or friction. 7 It may be noted that one of the great advantages of the chain drive is that with the chain running across the tops of the sprockets, the spindles all rotate in the same direction without the need of immediate reverse gearing or other complications.

The chain drive lends itself admirably to the simplified counter ofthis'invention since the spindle sprockets are driven by a sprocket twice their size with the result that the drive shaft rotates at anideal speed for the type of counter of this invention. g

In the simplified counter ofthis invention, a

single slide is latched in operative position by a handle and is released automatically after an adjustable number of revolutions of the spindles, turning off the motor and at the same time disengaging the drive worm from the counter wheel so that the latter may return to its starting po-v sition under the influence of a weight.

Additional advantages and objects of the in- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the struc; ture showing particularly an elevation of the counter mechanism;

Fi 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. '1 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4. a

A preferred form of the invention has been chosen for illustration and description, in compliance with section 4888 of the Revised Statutes, but persons skilled, in the art will readily perceive other means for accomplishing the same results, and theclairns are, therefore, to be construed as broadly as possible, consistent with the prior art.

The invention has been illustrated in connection with a tank ll adapted to contain a body of water I2 on which the skeins I3 being twisted may float. The skeins are fastened at one end to spindles l4 and'at the other end to hooks It. The hooks l6 are biased away from the spindles 14 either individually, or in the illustrated form, in a group. This biasing applies tension to the skeins as they are being twisted, the tension being determined by the weight of the weights H which are connected to the tail bar l8 by ropes or cables running over .pulleys. The hooks l6 are carried by the bar [8 in .a manner to prevent the hooksfrom turning.

The skeins '13 each include a number of very of the skein and hence it is necessary for the control mechanism to be adjustable.

The twisting is accomplished by rotating the hooks or spindles l4, these being driven by a motor 2|. The motor 2| drives shaft 22 through e V-belts 23. The shaft 22 carries a pair of sprockets 24 keyed thereto. A double chain 25 runs around these sprockets, which could be considered a double sprocket, and around idler sprockets or a double idler sprocket 2']. Bem tween the sprockets 24 and 21 is a series of driven sprockets 28 each of which is keyed to the shaft 29 of one of the spindles l4. Theseshafts are rotatably journalled in the casing 3! as clearly seen inFig. 4.

It is commercially necessary for the spindles M to be spaced quite closely togethersd that a relatively large number of them may be within the reach of the operator from the side-of the tank H. To drive the spindles which are 20 thus-closely spaced, the sprockets 28:0.v'erlap one another astseen in Figs. .5 and 7. Accordingly, thereis. not room for the chains to run around the sprockets and around intervenin idler sprocketsso as to have the arcuate engagement with the sprockets generally considered necessary. According to the. present invention, the chain merely rests on top ofv the sprockets asseen best in Fig. '7. A double chain is used so that one half of. it may drive the sprockets an closer to the skein. while the other half drives the sprockets moreremote from the skein.

Actual use has demonstrated the fact-that this driving connection in which the chain merely rests on top of the sprocket is entirely satis- 35 factory with the small'driving' load herein involved. Of course, it is important that the teeth of the sprocket-be soshaped that they do not exert very much of an upward thrust on the chain by. reaction,- but conventional sprocket 4ov shapes, such as that shown, are satisfactory. In case there might occasionally; be some abnormal condition to cause achain to jump from the sprockets, guard bars 33 are provided extending along the length of the series 0f sprockets 28. These guard bars are normally spaced along their lengthfrom' the chain 26 as seen in Fig. 4 so that they do-not introduce-any friction or any wear. In'spectionafterlong periods of operation of. the device haveindicated that there isno appreciable wear if any; and so it may be concludedthatmost of the time. the apparatus would function satisfactorily without the guard bar even. though-it maybe highly desirable for preventingoccasional trouble.

Sprockets 24 and 21 are substantiallylarger than sprockets 28 so that the lower runof thechain 26. will fall below sprockets -28. This-avoids the possibility. oiwearing the sprockets byimproper engagement between them and the lower 6 run of the chain. which would not be-seated properly between the teeth of thesprockets;

The. casing 3| comprises an oil-reservoir, the oil leve1 preferably beingbelow-the level'of the bottoms. of the sprockets 28 but above the level splash from; the sprockets 2l'or. by oil.carried.70v

by; the chain from the IOWGILDOl'tiOILOi the-casing 3|; togthe, topsof the, sprockets; 'It has been foundconvenient to have the sprockets. andi 21; of twice the diameter of;.the .sprockets.,28,;

oth; o as. to. p mit onsid ra l Variatiomin; 7

of. which is: found the. latch 51.

the oil level without disturbing the relationship above discussed, and so that the sprockets 28 will rotate twice as fast as the shaft 22. This permits a convenient driving speed for the shaft 22 both from the standpoint of its being driven by the motor 2| and from the standpoint of its driving the counter.

Counter The shaft 22 is provided with a worm 36 thereon, this worm driving a worm wheel (not shown) which is keyed to shaft 38. Shaft 33 drives a shaft 39 through universal joints 4| telescopically associated. This permits the shaft 39 to be 'lf'gllsfid and lowered without interfering with its driving relationship with the shaft 38. The shaft 39 is .journalled in lugs 42 on slide 43, the slide being slidably mounted on the main counter bracket 44. The slide 43 tends to drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which a worm 46 carried. by shaft 39, is out of engagement with a worm wheel 41' whichmay be called the counter wheel. The slide may be raised by bell crank lever 48 having a handle portion 49. When raised, it may assume the position shown inFig. Gin which the worm 46 engages and drives the counter wheel 31. The slide 43 is automatically latched in this position by a latch 5| forming one arm of a bell crank lever pivoted at 52 to the main bracket 44.

The counter wheel 41 has a drum 53 mounted onits hub and keyed thereto. The weight 54 is suspended from a cable 56, wound on the drum 53 sothat the weightv tends to rotate the counting wheel 31in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 3.. The movement, of'the counter wheel in this direction is limited, by a pin 51 carried by the wheel which engages a stop 53 carried by an arm 59 which is fast. on shaft 6!. A handle 62 is. also fast. on shaft 61 so that the angular positionofthestop 58; aboutthe shaft 6| may be adjusted. Thehandle 62 may be held in an adjusted position in any suitable manner as by spring detent engagement with an arcuate plate. The. plate 63,is preferably calibrated so that the handle62: maybe set to a position corresponding to anygiven number of turns.

. Whenthehandle 49 is shiitedto raise the worm ldinto engagement with counter wheel 4?, the counter wheel is, rotated in a. counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig, 3 so that the pin 5' I'leaves the stop 58. As the rotation of counter wheel 41 continues, the pin 51 will" ultimately strike the arm 640i, the bell crank lever on the other arm As the-pin .51- is furtherrotated by; the counter wheel, it- .depresses the arm 641and hence releases the latch 5!: so that, the slide 43 will .drop by gravity and disengage worm 43 from counter wheel 41 so that weight .i4will rotate counter wheel 41 back in: a. clockwise direction until the pin Slcomes.

startedxtoastartthe.operation which is:being counted, namely, therotations of the spindles-14. When the latch 5| lreleases the sli'de 43,.the mo tor will be stopped as the spindles will'have reached'the 'desirednumber of rotations.

A convenient form. of ,;motor 1 control involves the use of a mercury switch;. This switch maybe videdfor the various parts,, as for example-the pinfll for limiting themovement of the bell crank lever 48. Likewise any suitable springs may be provided although the leaf spring 12- for urging the'latoh 5| to the latching position is believed to be the only one required.

separability It will be observed that the spindle I4 is journalled in the casing 3| and that it extends over the low top 14 of the tank ll instead fOf extend: ing through the ends of the tank, as has been the practice in the past. This permits the entire driving and counting unit to be shifted from one tank to another or to be removed to a convenient place for servicing in the rare event that, such servicing is necessary. h

Separating partitions 16 between the hooks of spindles l4 and the endportion of the skeins may b hinged to the casing}! or to the tank; at .14. These partitions are desire at this position to prevent interference between the loose portions of the skeins where the free endslofl the strands project beyond the tying point. I v 1' From the foregoing, it is seenlthat a'greatly simplified rotating and countingmechanism is provided for twisting skeins into gut strings. The driving mechanism uses aminimum number of parts, which are standard parts easily. obtained. The counter likewise uses very few parts, some of which may be standard, but in spite of its extreme simplicity, it is easily adjustable for any given number of turns. Both units are designed so that they are substantially free from trouble since there is very little that can get out of order except with years of wear.

I claim:

1. Skein winding apparatus including a plurality of closely spaced spindles, each adapted to have one end of a skein secured thereto, a sprocket on each spindle with the sprockets of adjacent spindles overlapping, drive sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at one end of the series, and idler sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at the other end of the series, endless chain means extending around the larger sprockets and having its upper run resting on the tops of the driven sprockets, and its lower run spaced below the driven sprockets,

, and a reservoir for oil having its oil level above the bottom of the larger sprockets whereby oil is supplied by the chain and sprocket means to all of the working parts.

2. Skein winding apparatus including a plurality of closely spaced spindles, each adapted to have one end of a skein secured thereto, a sprocket on each spindle with the sprockets of adjacent spindles overlapping, drive sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at oneend of the series, and

idler? SProcketmeans of larger diameter than the spindlesprockets positioned'at the other-end of the series, endless chain-means extending: around the. larger sprockets; and; having its upper run resting -.on the tops-Lof the driven sprockets, and its lower run spaced below. the driven sprockets, aguard bar; normally out oflcontact withfthe chainbut positioned close enough above its upper run to prevent the chain means from jumping off= ofztheispindle sprockets under abnormal conditions. to v 3.- Skein winding apparatus including a'plurality; of. closely spaced spindles, each adapted to have one end of .a. skein secured theretopa sprocket on each spindle with the sprockets of adjacent spindles overlapping, drive sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at one end of the series, and idler sprocket means of largerdiameter' than the spindle sprockets positioned at the-other end of' the series, endless chain means extending aroundthe larger-sprockets and having its upper run resting on the tops of the driven sprockets, and its lower run spacedbelow the driven sprockets. i.

4., A skein winding apparatus including a plurality of spindles each adapted to' have a skein attached thereto, a small sprocket on each spindle, chain means havingone run resting on the sprockets and one run spacedtherebelow, a driving' sprocket around which said chain run's,-=a shait'ior driving said driving sprocket, a worm on the shaft, a gear driven by the worm, a second worm connected to the gear through a universal joint, means for moving the second worm between two positions, a gear driven by the second worm in one position thereoffa switch and a latch controlled by said last-named gear, ainotor controlled by the switch for driving the entire system/said latch maintaining the worm moving meansin engaged position.

5. A counter comprising a counting wheel; meansfor biasing the wheel in'one directionand' an adjustable-,stop'for limiting itsmovement in this direction to provide a variable starting position, a drive member, a gear driven by the drive member through a universal joint and movable between engaged and disengaged positions in the first of which it drives the counter wheel, a slide in which said gear is mounted for movement between the two positions, a latch for locking the slide in the engaged position, the slide being biased to the disengaged position, a handle for raising the slide, a motor driving the drive shaft, means operable by the counting wheel when it rotates to a predetermined position for releasing the latch, and a switch controlled by said slide to connect said motor when in said engaged position and disconnect it when in the disengaged position.

6. A control meter comprising a counting wheel, means for biasing the wheel in one direction and an adjustable stop for limiting its movement in this direction to provide a variable starting position, a drive member, a gear connected to the drive member through a universal joint and movable between engaged and disengaged positions in the first of which it drives the counter wheel, a shit table member on which said gear is mounted for movement between the two positions, a latch for locking the shiftable member in the engaged position, the shiftable member being biased to the disengaged position and manually operable to the other direction, and means operable by the counting wheelwhen it reaches a predetermined posi .drive member through a universal joint and movable between engaged and disengaged'positions in the first of which it drivesithe counter wheel, a shiftable member on which said gear is mounted for movement between; the two positions, a latch for locking the. shiftable member in the engaged position, the shiftable member being biased to the disengaged position and manually operable to the other direction, means operated by the shiftable member forv eontrollingthe operation'of associated mechanism, and means operable by the counting wheel when it reaches. a predetermined position for releasing the latch.

8. Material treating apparatus including a plurality of closely spaced'generally horizontal spindles, each adapted to have material secured thereto, a sprocket" on each spindle with the sprockets of adjacent spindles overlapping, drive sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindlesprockets positioned at one end of the series, and idler sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at the other end of the series, endless chain means extending around the larger sprockets and having its upper run resting by gravity, on the tops of the driven sprockets, and its lower run spaced below the driven sprockets, a guard bar normally out of contact with the chain but positioned close enough above its upper run to prevent the chain means from jumping off of the spindle sprockets under abnormal conditions.

9. Skein winding apparatus including a, plurality of closely spaced spindles, each adapted to have one end of a skein secured thereto, a sprocket on each spindle with the sprockets of adjacent spindles overlapping, drive sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at one end of the series, and idlersprocket means "of larger diameter than the spindle sprocketspositioned at the other end of the series, endless chain means extending around the larger sprockets and having a'first run resting on the driven sprockets-and biased to this position other than mechanically and its other run spaced from the driven sprockets, a guard bar normally out of contact with the chain but positioned close enoughto its first run to prevent the chain means from jumping ofi of the spindle sprockets under abnormal conditions.

' 10.. Material treating apparatus including a plurality ofclosely spaced spindles, each adapted tohave material secured thereto, a sprocket on each spindle with the sprockets of adjacent spindles overlapping, drive sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at one end of the series, and idler sprocket means of larger diameter than the spindle sprockets positioned at the other end of the series, endless chain means extending around the larger sprockets and having its first run resting on the tops of the driven sprockets and biased to this position-other than mechanically, and its lower runspaced below the driven sprockets.

11. A- control meter comprising a counting wheel, means for biasing the wheel in one direction and an adjustable stop for limiting its movement in this direction to provide a variable starting position, a drive member, a gear connected to the drive member through means maintaining the connection as the gear is shifted and movable betweenengaged and disengaged positions in" the firstof which it drives the counter wheel, a shiftable member on which said gear is mounted for movement between the two positions, a latch for locking the shiftablemember in the engaged position, the shiftable member being biased to the disengaged position and manually operable to the other direction, means operated by the shiftable member for controlling the operation or associated-mechanism, and means operable by the counting'wheel when it reaches a predetermined position for releasing the'latch.

' FELIX LANGE. 

